When Wrinkles Appear

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The first wrinkles tend to appear on a person’s face in areas where the skin naturally folds during facial expressions. They develop due to the skin becoming thinner and less elastic over time.

Wrinkles also tend to appear on parts of the body that receive the most sun exposure, such as the face and neck, back of the hands, and arms.

Wrinkles are a natural part of growing older, and they affect everyone. However, many people dislike the appearance of wrinkles, and, as a result, the anti-aging market in the United States is worth over 50 billion dollars per year.

Wrinkles, a natural part of aging, are most prominent on sun-exposed skin, such as the face, neck, hands, and forearms.

Although genetics mainly determine skin structure and texture, sun exposure is a major cause of wrinkles, especially for people with light skin. Pollutants and smoking also contribute to wrinkling.

If your wrinkles bother you, you have more options than ever to help smooth them or make them less visible. Medications, skin-resurfacing techniques, fillers, and surgery top the list of effective wrinkle treatments.

Some Of The Reason For Wrinkles

Wrinkles are a natural part of the aging process. As people get older, their skin becomes thinner, drier, and less elastic, which means it is less able to protect itself from damage. This leads to wrinkles, creases, and lines on the skin.

Facial expressions, such as smiling, frowning, or squinting, lead to the development of fine lines and wrinkles at a young age. These lines deepen as the person gets older.

When a person is young, their skin springs back. As they get older, the skin loses its flexibility, and it becomes more difficult for the skin to spring back, resulting in permanent grooves.

Wrinkles affect people of different skin tones differently due to structural and functional differences in the skin. Research indicates that the compact dermis is thicker in the skin of Black and Asian people, which likely protects against facial wrinkles.

Many factors affect the development of wrinkles, including:

• sun exposure
• smoking
• dehydration
• some medications
• Environmental and genetic factors

Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from sunbathing, tanning booths, and outdoor sports increases the development of wrinkles.

UV light breaks down the collagen and elastin fibers in the skin. These fibers form the connective tissue that supports the skin. As this layer breaks down, the skin becomes weaker and less flexible. The skin starts to droop, and wrinkles appear.

Darker skin contains more melanin and protects from many harmful effects of UV radiation.

People who work in sunlight have a higher chance of early wrinkles. Wearing clothes that cover the skin, such as hats or long sleeves, may delay the development of wrinkles.

Regular smoking accelerates the aging process of the skin because it reduces the blood supply to the skin. Alcohol dehydrates the skin, and dry skin is more likely to develop wrinkles.

Causes

Wrinkles are caused by a combination of factors — some you can control, others you can’t:

• Age. As you get older, your skin naturally becomes less elastic and more fragile. Decreased production of natural oils dries your skin and makes it appear more wrinkled. Fat in the deeper layers of your skin diminishes. This causes loose, saggy skin and more pronounced lines and crevices.
• Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. Ultraviolet radiation, which speeds up the natural aging process, is the primary cause of early wrinkling. Exposure to UV light breaks down your skin’s connective tissue — collagen and elastin fibers, which lie in the deeper layer of skin (dermis). Without the supportive connective tissue, your skin loses strength and flexibility. The skin then begins to sag and wrinkle prematurely.
• Smoking. Smoking can accelerate the normal aging process of your skin, contributing to wrinkles. This may be due to smoking’s effect on collagen.
• Repeated facial expressions. Facial movements and expressions, such as squinting or smiling, lead to fine lines and wrinkles. Each time you use a facial muscle, a groove forms beneath the surface of the skin. As skin ages, it loses its flexibility and is no longer able to spring back in place. These grooves then become permanent features on your face.

Prevention

Here are some tips for protecting your skin and minimizing the appearance of wrinkles:

• Protect your skin from the sun. Limit the time you spend in the sun, especially midday, and always wear protective clothing, such as wide-brimmed hats, long-sleeved shirts, and sunglasses. Also, use sunscreen year-round when outdoors. Choose a skin-care product with a built-in sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more. Apply sunscreen generously, and reapply every two hours — or more often if you’re swimming or perspiring.
• Use products with built-in sunscreen. When selecting skincare products, choose those with a broad-spectrum sunscreen — meaning it blocks both UVA and UVB rays.
• Moisturize. Dry skin shrivels plump skin cells, which can lead to premature fine lines and wrinkles. Moisturizing traps water in your skin, which helps mask tiny lines and creases. It may take a few weeks of regular use of the product before you notice any improvement in your skin.
• Don’t smoke. Even if you’ve smoked for years or smoked heavily, you can still improve your skin tone and texture and prevent wrinkles by quitting smoking.
• Eat a healthy diet. There is some evidence that certain vitamins in your diet help protect your skin. More study is needed on the role of nutrition, but it’s good to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.
  • Using sun protection. Avoiding UV exposure reduces skin damage. Dermatologists recommend wearing a hat and clothing to protect the skin and using a sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher every day.
  • Drinking less alcohol. Alcohol dehydrates the skin, which causes damage over time.
  • Eating a healthful, balanced diet. Eating plenty of fruit and vegetables can prevent skin damage, whereas sugar and refined carbs can speed up skin aging.
  • Washing your face twice a day. Use a gentle cleanser. Rubbing the skin can cause irritation and speed up skin aging.
  • Washing your face after heavy sweating. Sweat can irritate the skin, causing damage over time. This is especially true when wearing a hat or helmet.

Home Remedies For Wrinkles

Wrinkles are a result of aging skin and volume loss and are completely natural. The skin becomes thinner over time due to the lower production of collagen and elastin proteins. This slowdown also causes the skin to become less resistant to damage.

There are some things a person can do at home to minimize the risk of developing wrinkles or help reverse the signs of aging.

Daily skincare

Regularly moisturizing the skin can prevent dryness, decreasing the chance of wrinkles forming. It is important to use skincare products that match the skin’s needs and to introduce one product at a time.

Using too many products on the skin, especially more than one anti-aging product can irritate the skin, which can make signs of aging more noticeable. Most products take a few weeks to work.

Sleep

Studies have shown that certain sleep positions can contribute to wrinkles on the face.

There are ways to help minimize the risk of developing wrinkles while sleeping. They include:

• sleeping flat on the back
• using a special pillow that reduces facial deformation during sleep
• using a silk pillowcase, although there is little research to back this trend

Microneedling

Professionals were once the only ones who could do micro-needling, but it is now possible to do this at home.

Microneedling uses small needles to create tiny punctures in the skin. These punctures trigger a healing response and renew the skin cells.

Medical treatments

Most home remedies will only tackle the fine lines on a person’s skin, and deeper wrinkles may require medical treatment.

If home remedies do not give satisfactory results, a person may want to visit a dermatologist or cosmetic surgeon.

Medications

Creams containing retinoids, such as retinol, can help the body make more collagen, preventing wrinkles. Dermatologists often prescribe these as an initial treatment.

Chemical peel

A chemical peel can diminish many signs of aging on the face as well as the hands, neck, and chest. These treatments work by removing layers of the skin.

Laser therapy

Laser resurfacing gives the fastest results out of all the nonsurgical skin tightening methods. After healing, fewer wrinkles will be visible within 2 weeks. However, this does come with a downtime of 5–7 days.

Botox

Botulinum toxin therapy is a noninvasive procedure that helps to diminish signs of aging by relaxing facial muscles.

People can resume most of their everyday activities immediately after the procedure and may begin to see results after 3 days.

Fillers

Fillers help to restore fullness to the face, lips, and hands. Fillers work by plumping up the depressed areas of the skin. They provide immediate results and can often be done during an office visit.

Facelifts

The most dramatic results come from surgical options, such as a facelift or eyelid surgery.

Avoid stress

Avoiding stress is key to preventing wrinkles. When a person is stressed, their body releases a hormone called cortisol, which may break down collagen in the skin.

Drink less alcohol

Alcohol can cause dehydration, which can dry the skin and cause it to look older. Not drinking alcohol or cutting back may help with wrinkles.

Eat a healthy diet

Eating a healthy diet that is full of foods rich in antioxidants can help reduce wrinkles. Antioxidants protect the skin from free radicals, which can cause wrinkles and skin damage.

Foods that contain high levels of antioxidants include:

• blueberries
• beets
• pecans
• spinach
• artichoke
• kale
• dark chocolate

Limit sugar

The AAD suggests that a diet containing lots of sugar or other refined carbohydrates can accelerate aging. They recommend avoiding foods and drinks with these to help protect the skin from wrinkles.

Do not tan

Getting a tan, whether it is from the sun or a tanning bed, causes exposure to harmful UV rays. These rays from the sun accelerate aging, causing wrinkles, age spots, a blotchy complexion, and even skin cancer.

Protect skin with sunscreen

People should apply sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 every day.

They should apply it to all skin that their clothing does not cover, and which they expose to the elements when outdoors.

Wrinkles in different areas of the body

When people think about wrinkles, they usually think of facial wrinkles. However, different areas of the body can get wrinkles.

Most wrinkles usually appear in the areas that receive the most exposure to the sun, including the face, neck, back of the hands, and arms.

Hands

Applying sunscreen to the hands every day can prevent wrinkly skin from developing. Treatment to get rid of wrinkles on the hands can include:

• Use hand lotion with retinol or glycolic acid before bedtime
• undergoing a light chemical peel, every 1 to 3 months
• having laser treatment

Decolletage

Chest skin is thinner than the skin on the rest of the body, making it prone to sun damage.

Almost all of the treatments for a person’s face are also safe for the chest area, including micro-needling, lasers, chemical peels, and certain types of filler.

Natural Herbal Remedies

1. Olive Oil

Olive oil is a great massage oil for your skin. It is a good source of antioxidants, like vitamins A and E, which fight skin-damaging free radicals.

• Regularly massaging olive oil onto the affected skin area will moisturize, repair, and even regenerate skin cells. As the oil penetrates deep into the skin, it provides long-lasting protection and keeps it moisturized.
• Another option is to mix a few drops of honey with a few drops of olive oil and glycerin. Massage the mixture into your skin twice daily. This will eliminate dead cells and help tighten sagged skin.

You can also massage your skin with coconut oil, emu oil, almond oil, or vitamin E oil to prevent and reduce wrinkles.

2. Fenugreek

Fenugreek leaves, seeds, and even oil work as an antidote for different skin problems, including wrinkles. The leaves are rich in vitamins and minerals that are easily absorbed by the body and help treat wrinkles and fine lines when this remedy is used regularly.

• Grind a handful of fresh fenugreek leaves to make a thick paste. Apply the paste on your face and leave it on overnight. In the morning, wash it off with lukewarm water.
• You can also wash your face with water boiled with fenugreek seeds or apply fenugreek oil on your wrinkles and fine lines.

3. Aloe Vera

The aloe vera plant contains malic acid that helps reduce wrinkles by improving the elasticity of your skin.

• Simply cut an aloe vera leaf from the plant and extract its gel. Apply the fresh gel onto your skin and leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes. Wash it off with lukewarm water.
• Another option is to mix one teaspoon of aloe vera gel with the contents of a vitamin E capsule. Apply the mixture to areas where wrinkles are forming. Leave it on for half an hour and then wash it off with lukewarm water.

4. Ginger

Ginger works as an excellent anti-wrinkle remedy due to its high antioxidant content. Moreover, it helps inhibit the breakdown of elastin, one of the main causes of wrinkles and fine lines.

• Mix a pinch of grated ginger with a tablespoon of honey. Eat this mixture every morning.
• You can also drink ginger tea twice daily.

5. Bananas

Bananas are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that combat the causes of wrinkles and fine lines. Using this remedy twice per week will rejuvenate your skin and treat wrinkles in a natural manner.

• Mash two ripe bananas into a thick paste. Apply the paste on the wrinkled areas. Leave it on for at least half an hour and then wash it off with lukewarm water. Follow it with some skin moisturizer.
• Alternatively, you can use a mixture of one mashed banana and avocado, along with a little honey. Slather it on your skin, leave it on for 20 minutes, and then wash it off.

6. Almonds

Almonds are an excellent source of fiber, vitamin E, iron, zinc, calcium, folic acid, and oleic acid, which combined can delay the aging process and treat wrinkles.

• Soak some almonds in raw milk overnight. In the morning, remove the skin and grind the almonds into a thick paste. Apply the paste onto your skin, and even under your eyes to get rid of dark circles. Leave it on for 20 to 30 minutes and then wash it off with lukewarm water. For best results, do this daily.
• You can also massage almond oil into your skin to delay the effects of aging.

7. Carrots

Carrots have a high content of vitamin A, which promotes the production of collagen and helps keep the skin smooth.

• Boil two or three large carrots in water until they become soft. Blend the carrots with some honey to get a paste. Apply it directly on the face. Leave it on for about half an hour and then rinse it off with lukewarm water.
• Another option is to have a combination of equal parts of carrot juice and honey each morning and evening. You can leave it for about 10 minutes before washing it off.
• Also, include raw carrots in your diet.

8. Lemon Juice

Lemon juice is rich in citric acid acts as a strong exfoliant and helps get rid of dead skin cells. It also works as a deep cleansing agent and astringent that will help fade blemishes as well as wrinkles, fine lines, and other signs of aging, like dark circles.

• Gently rub a little bit of lemon juice into your facial skin. Leave it on for 5 or 10 minutes and then rinse your face with water. Do this two to three times a day.
• Alternatively, you can mix one teaspoon each of yogurt, honey, vitamin E oil, and lemon juice. Spread it on your face and leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes before washing it off.
• Another option is to apply lemon juice mixed with amla powder (Indian gooseberry) onto your face to treat wrinkles and delay aging naturally.

9. Pineapple

Pineapples have enzymes that promote skin elasticity, moisturize the skin, and help eliminate dead skin cells as well. The fruit is also rich in antioxidants, fibers, and vitamins that boost skin health.

• Rub pineapple flesh on the affected skin area. Allow it to dry for 20 minutes, and then rinse with warm or cold water.
• Apply the juice from a green pineapple onto the skin daily for five minutes before washing off. This is also a very good remedy for treating dark circles around the eyes.

10. Water

Drinking water is one of the easiest and most effective home remedies for treating wrinkles. Water keeps the body hydrated and maintains the moisture level in the skin. When the body is dehydrated, your skin will generally look older.

Be sure to drink pure, filtered water, as unfiltered water may have traces of chemicals that can damage your skin over time.

Drink at least two liters of filtered water daily. Have a glass in the morning to kick start your day and then keep a bottle of water beside you throughout the day. Avoid alcohol and carbonated drinks, though.

Additional Tips

• Limit sun exposure, especially when the sun is strongest.
• Reduce and manage stress as chronic stress accelerates cellular skin aging.
• Stop smoking as it can damage collagen and cause early wrinkles.
• Include more vitamin C-rich foods such as oranges, blueberries, grapefruit, pineapple, broccoli, bell peppers, spinach, and kale in your diet. Vitamin C promotes collagen formation and fights free radicals. Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids will also help keep your skin youthful and plump.
• Get proper sleep and prefer to sleep on your back to prevent sleep lines that eventually turn into wrinkles.
• Control facial expressions like squinting and frowning as they tend to overwork the facial muscles.

Aging is a natural phenomenon leading to the formation of wrinkles and fine lines on the skin, but these remedies will help you decelerate the process. You can look younger for many more years to come.

Treatment

There are many treatments available to help reduce fine lines on the skin. For deeper creases, a person may require more aggressive techniques, such as plastic surgery or injections of fillers.

Medications

Topical retinoids derived from vitamin A. They aim to reduce fine wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and skin roughness. They do this by increasing collagen production in the skin.

However, using retinoids can cause the skin to burn in sunlight, so it’s essential to protect the skin while using the cream. Possible adverse effects include:

• dryness
• itching
• a burning sensation
• tingling
• discolored areas

The active ingredients in wrinkle creams vary in type and concentration. Concentrations in over-the-counter (OTC) wrinkle creams will be significantly lower than a prescription one. The concentration will affect how well they work.

People may notice slight-to-modest results from the following medications:

• retinol
• alpha hydroxy acids
• kinetin
• coenzyme Q10
• copper peptides
• antioxidants

Dermabrasion

Dermabrasion is a surgical procedure that involves the controlled wearing away, or abrasion, of the upper layers of skin with a rapidly rotating device.

Dermabrasion aims to remove fine wrinkles, moles, tattoos, acne scars, and other types of scars.

This procedure may cause scabbing, swelling, and changes in skin color. These symptoms generally fade after 2 weeks, but some signs may remain for several months.

A person will not achieve their desired results immediately and may not see any improvements for several months.

Microdermabrasion is a less invasive procedure. It involves spraying microcrystals of aluminum oxide across the surface of the skin. Some practitioners use a handheld device with fine diamond crystals and a powerful vacuum to remove the particles as they brush them over the skin.

This type of treatment aims to give a fresher and smoother appearance to the skin and reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles, enlarged pores, coarse skin, and sun damage.

The results are only temporary, and people may require repeated treatments.

Non-ablative lasers, radiofrequency (RF) devices, and pulsed light sources do not damage the epidermis.

Laser and light source therapy treatments destroy the outer layer of the skin to decrease wrinkles.

Radiofrequency (RF) treatments heat the underlying dermis and stimulate the development of new collagen fibers. This tightens skin and decreases wrinkles.

It might take several months before a person notices a decrease in wrinkles after RF treatment. In a 2013 study, over 90% of participants who underwent RF were satisfied with the results at 1 month and 6 months after treatment. RF does not cause a wound. However, the researchers called for further investigations into safety and effectiveness.

When the wound heals from laser or light surgery, the new skin is smoother and tighter. Ablative laser resurfacing can take several months to heal,

Newer therapies using laser technology may heal more quickly.

A person may need several treatments before their skin feels firmer and appears refreshed, but recovery times are faster.

Botox

Botulinum toxin type A, or Botox, blocks the chemical signals that cause muscles to contract. Doctors use it to treat some medical conditions.

A cosmetic professional will use it to reduce wrinkles by injecting small doses of Botox into targeted muscles. If the muscles can no longer tighten, the skin flattens, giving a less wrinkled and smoother appearance.

Botox can decrease the lines on the forehead, the frown lines between the eyes, and the “crow’s feet” around the corners of the eyes.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, a person will see results after a few days to a week. The changes usually last for 3–4 months, so many people get repeat injections.

Chemical peels

A chemical peel involves applying a chemical solution to the desired areas, causing the dead skin to shed and eventually peel off. The regenerated skin tends to be smoother than the old skin.

People can buy some types of chemical peels without a medical license. However, it’s best to consult a medical healthcare professional for the treatment.

Facelift

A facelift, or a rhytidectomy, is a type of cosmetic surgery that aims to make people look more youthful. It usually involves removing some facial skin and fat, with or without tightening the underlying tissues.

A study in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery suggests that some elements of a facelift should last for about 5 and a half years, but it may lose some effect around the neck.

Healing times may be lengthy, and the person will experience bruising and swelling for a few weeks after surgery.

Fillers

Soft tissue fillers include collagen, hyaluronic acid, or fat. A cosmetic professional will inject fillers into deeper face wrinkles, plumping, and smoothing them out to give the skin more volume.

People may sometimes experience swelling and bruising in the affected areas for a short period. As with Botox treatment, these treatments are temporary, and people may require regular injections.

The results depend on several factors, including where the wrinkles are and their depth.

Thank you for reading

Michael

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